University of Greenwich - Devonport House
University of Greenwich - Devonport House
We are providing engineering advice for the transformation of Devonport House, located within the University of Greenwich's principal campus, which lies in the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the West Greenwich Conservation Area.
The University wishes to create new, world-class teaching and learning facilities that benefit the university as well as providing spaces for the wider community. The development will also establish a home for the Greenwich Business School. The proposals involve the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Devonport House and the construction of a new, highly sustainable building. The development will also provide for publicly-accessible pedestrian routes across the site and improve the cluster of building's relationship with Greenwich Park, to the south.
The listed building will be fully refurbished and restored to a high standard, retaining historic features. The Devonport House Conference Centre will be demolished and replaced with a new contemporary extension which is sensitively connected to the original building via a new glazed atrium which is a central element of the design proposal.
Over 8,000 square meters of floor space across the existing and new buildings will be used as education spaces, including flexible teaching and learning rooms and Technology Enhance Active Learning (TEAL) spaces, two lecture theatres, informal study areas, student services and offices. The majority of the ground floor of the new building will be open to the public, featuring a welcoming café and a variety of spaces available for community use.
The whole façade and reinstated corner of Devonport House will be visible from within, and sunlit from the glazed roof above. The atrium, new bridges and balconies enable it to be appreciated and enjoyed from new view points around the building. The atrium will be a dynamic, busy space, with informal seating areas for students and staff to use, providing opportunities for meetings and facilitating collaboration. As part of the proposals, landscape improvements will also be made to enhance the public experience of this historic site.
Client: University of Greenwich
Architects: Stride Treglown and Purcell